Call for lorries to be restricted in pedestrian areas

LORRIES must be restricted in busy pedestrian areas to avoid more deaths and injuries, campaigners Living Streets Scotland have demanded.

The scene of the Glasgow bin Lorry crash in George Square. Picture: Robert Perry

The pedestrians’ lobby group said they should be barred in peak shopping periods and limited to 5mph on some streets.

The call follows lorry curbs being recommended by the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the Glasgow bin lorry crash which killed six pedestrians.

Living Streets Scotland said there had been six crashes involving lorries and pedestrians since then.

Director Stuart Hay feared the FAI recommendations risked being overlooked because of the focus on the need for stricter checks on drivers.

Among 19 recommendations, Sheriff John Beckett QC said: “Glasgow City Council should seek to identify routes between refuse collection points which, so far as is reasonably practicable, minimise the number of people who would be at risk should control be lost of a refuse collection lorry.”

He also said: “The potential for the presence of exceptional numbers of pedestrians at particular times should be taken account of as part of route risk assessment in refuse collection.”

Living Streets has called for:

• Lorries with cameras and warning systems in high-risk areas such as busy high streets.

• 20mph speed limits in city centres but 5mph in pedestrian areas.

• A review of loading/unloading times in the busiest streets to avoid peak shopping periods.

• More evening deliveries at Christmas and during events like the Edinburgh Festival.

• Traders encouraged to consolidate waste/recycling contracts in city centres to reduce pick-ups.

• Training for traders and delivery firms in lorry manoeuvring and marshalling on streets with “clear risks”.

Mr Hay said: “We remain gravely concerned about the number of large vehicles manoeuvring close to pedestrians, especially at busy shopping times.”

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “Ideally, large vehicles and pedestrians should not be sharing the same space, but that is still years away. In the meantime, better driver training, more rigorous checking of fitness to drive and detailed reassessment of lorry routes offer the best solution.”

Glasgow City Council said it would implement the sheriff’s recommendations but it was too early to provide details. A spokesman said: “Sheriff Beckett has made recommendations regarding routes and the use of advanced braking systems, which we will implement.”